Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Thursday, 23 January 2025

BBC News

• Portishead line's first trains could run in two yearsRestoring the rail line between Bristol to Portishead could be "fast-tracked", with construction beginning this year and the first trains running by 2027.
• Depots being built for fleets of electric busesA bus company is building a charging depot in preparation for a fleet of electric buses, as part of a £15m sustainable transport scheme.
• Belfast airport closes smoking area due to vandalismThe smoking gallery, located in the airport's departure area, is closed following "persistent vandalism".
• Rail stations to come under Bee Network controlNearly 100 local railway stations are to become part of Greater Manchester's Bee Network.
• Final phase of £1m historical viaduct revampThe Grade II listed Stockport Viaduct was built in 1840.
• Storm Éowyn set to cause severe rail disruptionWherever possible, Northern Rail is urging passengers not to travel during Storm Éowyn on Friday.
• TfL Go update makes top-ups and refunds easierThe latest version of the Go app makes it easier to top up pay-as-you-go and buy season tickets.

ITV News

• LNER cancels trains north of Newcastle on Friday as Storm Éowyn set to hit UK
Rail operator LNER says no trains will run north of Newcastle for the most part of Friday (24 January) due to severe weather warnings.

Financial Times

• Petrol cars are on the way out. Are you ready to go electric?By 2030 the UK government wants 80 per cent of new cars to be EVs. These are the changes needed to accelerate the transition
• EasyJet halves losses on Christmas travel boost and lower fuel costsLow-cost airline’s chief expects discounting to be confined to current quarter
• Trainline shares hit by UK plans for state-backed rivalGovernment outlines proposal for online service that brings together train operators’ ticketing websites
• Reeves says growth ‘trumps’ net zero as Heathrow runway decision loomsChancellor set to confirm her support for UK’s largest airport having a third runway

The Guardian

• Reeves says growth eclipses net zero as Heathrow runway decision loomsChancellor hints in Davos she intends to reaffirm backing of airport expansion despite climate concerns
• UK rail passengers to get new government-backed train ticket websiteNew retailer, which is part of Great British Railways plan, is not expected until 2026 at the earliest
• Trump says China is ‘operating’ the Panama Canal – here are the factsThe US president has singled out China during his complaints about the Panama Canal – so what influence does Beijing have?Donald Trump has repeatedly complained about the Panama Canal and the fees being charged, calling the vital transport corridor a “foolish gift [to Panama] that should never have been made” and threatening to take it back.But he has also repeatedly accused China of being in control of it. At his inauguration Trump claimed without providing evidence that “China is operating the Panama Canal and we didn’t give it to China.
• Cargo ship crew held by Houthi rebels released after more than a year in captivityHouthis in Yemen said 25-member crew of Galaxy Leader had been freed ‘in support’ of the Gaza ceasefire agreementSee all our Middle East crisis coverage. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader more than a year after they seized the Bahamas-flagged vessel off the Yemeni Red Sea coast, Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV has reported.It said on Wednesday the crew were handed to Oman “in coordination” with the three-day-old ceasefire in Gaza’s war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
• Legal challenges to infrastructure projects to be blocked in push for growthKeir Starmer hopes his plan to ‘take the brakes off Britain’ will send a message to business to build more. Campaigners will be blocked from “excessive” legal challenges to planning decisions for major infrastructure projects including airports, railways and nuclear power stations as part of the government’s drive for economic growth. High court judges will be given the power to rule that judicial reviews on nationally significant projects that they regard as “totally without merit” – and which can currently be brought to the courts three times

The Independent

• BA?s owner warns it would not back Heathrow expansion without fees overhaulIAG)chief executive Luis Gallego said the regulatory model used to determine the west London airport?s charges is ?not fit for purpose?.

City AM

• Heathrow: Starmer won’t say if he backs London airport expansion Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether he would back the expansion of Heathrow Airport after voting against a third runway in 2018. The Prime Minister said would not be “comment on speculation” on the issue, as emphasised the government is “committed to growth” when asked about reports ministers could be set to approve

Network Rail

• Keeping you moving during winter stormsStorms can severely impact the railway and cause countless minutes of delays and disruption to your journeys.

Sky News

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves indicates she will overrule environmental objections to a third runway at HeathrowChancellor Rachel Reeves has indicated she will overrule environmental objections to a third runway at Heathrow in order to prioritise economic growth, a position likely to bring her into conflict with colleagues including energy secretary Ed Miliband.

Birmingham Post

• Sir Keir Starmer dodges Heathrow expansion query amid Labour's internal rift on airport growthSir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether he would back the expansion of Heathrow Airport after voting against a third runway in 2018
• Bee Network to serve 96 Greater Manchester railway stations by 2030Move mirrors changes to bus network
• NASA deal for Cornwall’s Blue Abyss to support astronaut training and space researchBlue Abyss has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Leeds Bradford Airport launch flights to 'exciting' European destinationLeeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has launched a new service to an "exciting European destination" with flights going for as little as £32.99 per person.
• Increase in trains between Bradford and London is 'brilliant news for the North'The number of direct trains running between Bradford and London are set to be “more than tripled” by LNER.

Bristol Live

• Bristol trains labelled unreliable as delays and costs spiral upwardMPs call for urgent rail reforms to address Bristol’s poor train services

Metro

• Map shows what London boroughs could soon have a new Overground lineTens of thousands of new passengers could soon travel on the London Overground if extension plans go ahead.

Get Surrey

• Rachel Reeves says need for 'growth trumps all' amid Heathrow expansion speculationThe Chancellor is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support the proposed third runway and endorse expansion at Gatwick

Other Regional Press

• Plans to totally revamp problem Kent road with aim of completing work by 2031New details on plans to totally revamp the A229 Blue Bell Hill have been revealed and members of the public are urged to have their say. On Tuesday, January 21 Kent County Council (KCC) launched its second public consultation on the proposals to transform the vital route between Medway and Maidstone.
• Popular on demand bus services expand furtherThe Worcestershire on Demand bus services in Bromsgrove and surrounding areas and Malvern Hills have been expanded, improving the reach of the already successful services even further.
• MP urges Government to support Scarborough bus manufacturing with public procurementScarborough and Whitby's MP has called for greater use of public procurement to support British manufacturing, including bus company Alexander Dennis in Scarborough.

Rail Advent

• Dog charity gets valuable funding from LNERWag & Company, a North-East based charity has received valuable funding from train operating company LNER.

Railway Gazette

• Transport Secretary sets out five priorities for Shadow Great British Railways in 2025UK: Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander set out five priorities for Shadow Great British Railways in her first major rail-focused speech in the role.

The Business Desk

• Bradford to get more daily trains to LondonLNER is planning to more than triple its daily direct connections between Bradford and London King's Cross from May 2025, operating seven services in each direction from Monday to Saturday.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow?s ?catastrophic? expansion plansLabelled by many as controversial and even catastrophic by some, the planned expansion for Heathrow airport, adding a third runway, will aim to bolster travel and trade opportunities and build on the UK?s plans for better economic growth. it is rumoured the chancellor will accept the proposal.
• Heathrow airport: an allegory of our declineHaving spent more of my life than is natural arguing in favour of airport expansion, I can tell you that Rachel Reeves is right to pick the cause up, as she is reportedly doing. But she has chosen a mouthful which it is unusually difficult to chew on.
• MP to grill train bosses over Watford Junction cancellationsWatford's MP is set to grill rail bosses as he is 'not happy' amid unreliability, overcrowding, and cancellations.
• Network Rail appoints new Southern Managing Director to its Executive Leadership TeamNetwork Rail has today announced the appointment of Dave Hooper as new Managing Director for its Southern region.
• Introducing Bee Network - RailMayor Andy Burnham has set out Greater Manchester's step-by-step plan to bring rail into the Bee Network by 2028, working with the rail industry. It is the next stage of his joined-up 'London-style' public transport system, intended to boost passenger numbers, drive growth and deliver new homes.
• UK: 50 Wrightbus Electric Buses to Enter Service in PlymouthThis year, Plymouth Citybus is set to introduce 50 zero-emission electric double-decker buses, manufactured by Wrightbus.
• Another East Lancs council to join row over axed hospitals shuttle busBlackburn with Darwen Council is set to join the row over the controversial cancellation of the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust free shuttle bus.
• Rachel Reeves says need for 'growth trumps all' amid Heathrow expansion speculationThe Chancellor is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support the proposed third runway and endorse expansion at Gatwick

News from Europe

• Volvo Buses to test new self-driving bus technology in SwedenThe technology is designed to autonomously navigate buses into and out of bus stops, aiming to alleviate driver stress.